A great deal of construction machines that make full use of state-of-the-art technology have been released.

In the infrastructure development and the resource development competition proceeding in the world, lots of the latest construction machines that make full use of GPS, automatic operation, and AI are being released. On the other hand, in Japan, which experienced the construction boom during the high economic growth period in the postwar period, accompanied by the spread of the social infrastructure and the population decline, the number of the construction works is decreasing. Under such circumstances, construction machinery is also shifting toward a mature industry. For the industry of entering into the maturing period, while the proposal in which the users are focused as well as the development of state-of-the-art technology are gaining weight, we consider the future construction machinery with clients.

Case Study : Front window improvement of construction machines

To improve the indoor environment
will enrich the work experience.

“In the industry beginning to mature, not to mention the technology improvement, making the human experience comfortable becomes increasingly important. What people have as an experience is the most important.”

Case StudyFront window improvement of construction machines

To improve the indoor environment will enrich the work experience.

“In the industry beginning to mature, not to mention the technology improvement, making the human experience comfortable becomes increasingly important. What people have as an experience is the most important.”

Client’s Problem

Deterioration of the indoor environment due to the opening and closing difficulty of the window.

Eto received a consultation from a client, “Can the front window of the construction machine be easily opened and closed?” Not to mention the body of the construction machine, because even one part is heavy and large in scale, there are many things that cannot be easily moved by human power. It is the same in the interior structure. In spite of a function for the front window of the driver’s seat that is required to be easy to open and close, because the front window itself weighs about 20 to 25 kg, the worker cannot open it with ease. In summer it will be a burden on the body and lead to a delay in the work. Until now the opening and closing structure of the roller-type was common, but driving workers have often complained that it is so heavy and hard to open.

The weight of the front window of the driver’s seat

Proposal

Proposal of a new opening and closing system by taking advantage of group power.

For a problem that a client faces, Eto does not only consider the cost cutting and quality improvement. Standing on the side of the users, we aim to propose a window that will provide a comfortable work experience for the user. There were two methods that can be imagined to facilitate the opening and closing of the window. The first was “to carry out the weight saving of the window by changing the material of the window,” and the second was “to change the opening and closing system of the window.” Eto selected the second method, “to change the opening and closing system.” We will introduce the proposal.

Collaboration withgroup companies

Proposal could not be done by the Eto of the past.

In 2015, Eto became a subsidiary of Kyokuto Boeki Kaisha, Ltd. Through that, we made the network as a trading company more extensive, and at the same time the comprehensive strength as a new group was added. When Eto develops a new window opening and closing system, we selected a spring manufacturer, a group company of Kyokuto Boeki Kaisha, Ltd., as a co-proponent. Together with the spring manufacturer that is a member company of the group, we started development for a proposal to make the indoor environment comfortable and simultaneously to make opening and closing of the construction machine window comfortable.

Constant force springs were not often used in construction machinery. That’s why it makes sense to use.

In collaboration with the spring manufacturer member of the group, we had an eye on the constant force spring that this manufacturer had been developing and improving for many years. This spring had not been used for the large apparatus such as construction machinery until then, but was used for light objects, for example, such as the shade and door of the Shinkansen bullet train. However, if this spring is used for the front window of the driver’s seat of the construction machine, the user will be able to open and close the window with the force of a few kilos. We could aim at achieving a pleasant working environment for construction machine women, woman drivers who are increasing lately.

What is the constant force spring?

The constant force spring can set the auxiliary force in advance and is a “spring” with characteristics that the generating power does not change no matter how long a stroke is. Because it can push, pull, and roll up things with the same force as the up and down movement for hanging or pushing-up a heavy object, it is used in a variety of applications.

Relationship of the stroke and the generating power of various types of springs

Results of proposed

Experience of the construction machinery has changed greatly.

The front window has overwhelmingly become easier to open and close. Although it was previously required for the window to open and close with a force of 25 kg, the introduction of the constant force spring has reduced the force down to 5 kg, which is a weight with which even women can open and close the window.

Summary

A rich experience
as a new added value.

This case study is a proposal for people working in the work site. It is an added value of consumption obtained while the product is consumed. However, the added value of consumption at the same time leads a supplier manufacturer to a differentiation from other companies, and the richness of the work experience also leads a construction company to expanding the windows for employment. Through proposals for the sake of workers, Eto is working on the creation of the added value of new construction machinery.

At Eto we offer various other solutions in addition to the above examples. If you are having trouble with your construction machinery, please consult with us.